Mt. Juliet will open its own freestanding police station in the coming weeks after it renovates a former church building recently purchased by the city.

When work at the old Joy Church building on Charlie Daniels Parkway finishes, the department will move from the City Hall building it now shares. The department targets the new station to be operational by the end of June.

“We’re going from about (5,000) useful square feet to 14,000 square feet that will be more functional with plenty of room for growth,” Sgt. Tyler Chandler said. “With this city’s growth and the growth of our police department, it’s very much needed.”

The city paid $1.5 million for the 5-acre property used by Joy Church since 2003. The city took possession of the property early this year when the church moved to a new campus.

The renovated building will add or increase armory, evidence, training and interview room space and will give department vehicles a secure parking area it doesn’t have now. Mt. Juliet has 43 full-time officers and 16 reserves.

The new facility will have a courtroom that will be available for certain public meeting requests. It’s adjacent to the city’s well-used Charlie Daniels Park and across the street from Mt. Juliet Middle School.

“As far as how we work, it shouldn’t change anything,” Chief James Hambrick said. “We’re always striving to increase our response time, and citizens shouldn’t see any difference.”

City Hall will remain at 2425 N. Mt. Juliet Road, and several other departments such as finance, planning, codes and building will be consolidated into the building with the police department move, which City Manager Kenny Martin said will make it easier for citizens to do city business.